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What we learned from the LA Clippers’ crushing win over Warriors

By Garrett Chorpenning

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers smile while sitting on the bench during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 24, 2019 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Kawhi Leonard #2 and Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers smile while sitting on the bench during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 24, 2019 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 24: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts to a play during a game against the Golden State Warriors on October 24, 2019, at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – OCTOBER 24: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts to a play during a game against the Golden State Warriors on October 24, 2019, at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

LA Clippers overcome a sloppy start

It sounds strange to call the LA Clippers’ start to Thursday night’s game “sloppy”, especially since they kicked things off with a 14-0 run within the first three minutes of the game. But if you were paying attention to the Clippers’ effort in the first half, you would understand what we’re getting at.

The Clippers committed 10 turnovers in the first half alone, which led to 16 fast break points for Golden State. LA also surrendered nine offensive rebounds through the first two frames, and it didn’t always look like they were giving it their all.

Now, that is a little understandable. The Warriors lost a lot of pieces and depth over the summer, and despite the presence of D’Angelo Russell and Stephen Curry, there’s a chance that they could miss the postseason. The Clippers may not have expected Golden State to come out like they did Thursday night.

That said, it felt uncharacteristic of the Clippers to perform that way in the first half. This was a team that was known for its relentlessness last season, and they rarely played down to their opponents.

But when the Clippers entered the half up by just 11, it felt as though they could have been leading by twice as many points.

That issue seemed to go away in the second, as the Clippers came out strong and minimized errors throughout the rest of the night. Late in the third quarter, they opened up a 31-point lead that seemed to officially put the Warriors to bed. Credit Patrick Beverley for bringing back the intensity, who had five steals on the night.

They gave up less offensive rebounds, points in transition and second-chance points in the final two quarters than they did in the first, and they committed fewer turnovers as well.

That’s with most of the starters coming out of the game about halfway through the third quarter, too.

Slow or sloppy starts likely won’t be something that happens often for the Clippers this season, so it’s nothing to worry about. LA seemed to find their identity once again in the third, and that’s all that should really matter.

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